About Us

wooly walkers was formed around 2005, back when I was creating flat felt projects, and I attended Shoe School, yes, you heard that correctly, Shoe School! My instructor remarked that I should make shoes out of my felt and sent me on my way to figure it out on my own. Well, I did and a co-worker suggested the name that has followed me on my journey ever since. You can check out my YouTube channel for my 15 minutes of fame, when I was filmed for the TV show That’s Clever making a pair of Felt and Leather Shoes. However, custom shoemaking was not in my blood , but the process of learning new things has always excited me!

Fast forward a few years when I inherited 500 lbs of yarn from my mother, who had it in storage after she closed her craft supply store. (That story is for another time!) Within a month of receiving the shipment I met a woman doing a make-and-take with the Oxford Punch Needle. Fate intervened. I started creating items combining my felt with punch needle, like bags that had panels of punch and panels of felt. Eventually punch needle won the creative battle and I became interested in passing along my newly learned skills, designing patterns and selling supplies.

I attended the Oxford School of Rug Hooking, with Amy Oxford as my teacher, in 2014. I returned, by invitation, in 2018 to become part of her first group of eight advanced instructors. I have taught punch needle classes at fiber shows such as Estes Park Wool Market, Taos Wool Festival, Oregon Flock and Fiber, Black Sheep Gathering, Fiber Fusion, DFW, Lambtown, Copper K Fiber Fest, as well as for fiber guilds and individuals. I also teach a week long class for people who want to become instructors themselves to spread the love of the craft!

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I have also had many opportunities to promote the craft of punch needle. Recently I was the 2024 International Punch Needle Rug Hooking Ambassador, and I write articles about the craft of Punch Needle for Rug Hooking magazine.

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I teach with both patience and an attention to detail, that combined with my easy-going sense of humor results in a fun and rewarding experience for all. I thrive on problem solving and I love working with beginners, like who could have imagined creating shoes out of felt and leather?

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Cheers!

Una